Running group raising money for Parkinson's research

Baltimore Running Festival set for Saturday

There are so many different reasons people sign up for the Baltimore Running Festival. For some, that reason is achieving a goal, while others, it is physical fitness, and sometimes, it is to support a cause.

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In the latter case, runners use the festival, which is set for Saturday, to raise awareness and money for an important cause.

One group of runners call their team Pacing for Parkinson's. They all run at different paces to support bringing awareness to the disease.

Don Long learned the hard way how important it is to be on this team. His mother, Wendy Long, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2013.

"I felt like everything was over,” Wendy Long said. “I felt like my life has changed for good. And it has, but it has changed for good in many ways also.”

The good things that came with Parkinson's disease, Wendy Long said, are the people. This group is dedicated to supporting one another, so when the disease seems like an uphill fight, they inspire each other.

“This is just how my Parkinson's looks,” Julie Bullock said. “No one else's looks this way. I am so lucky, and I want people to know that. I have the best support system ever."

The support is vital, but Pacing for Parkinson's also raises money for the Johns Hopkins Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center.

"It has been wonderful to see, not only the awareness, but how we can directly help individuals and their families,” registered nurse Becky Dunlop said.

Pacing for Parkinson's started eight years ago. In that time, they have raised $500,000. The funds are used for education, outreach and research to help find a cure.

“We're going to overcome it. It's not the end. There's going to be a cure,” Wendy Long said.